when i was a little girl
one of my sisters used to bite her nails
when i’d look out the window
see the sliver of a moon
thought that was her nail up there
I was wanting endlessly
to think of a way to get it back for her.
—
“it’s like we’re on a rocket ship that we were just painting,
and suddenly it took off
and we’re holding onto the ship with our fingernails.
– Esteban Contreras
—
Notes: In thinking about the recent launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first to carry humans to and around the Moon in over 50 years, I was reminded of one of my first childhood memories of the moon. The post above is one that I wrote and posted on October 15th, 2020.
Artemis was a child-nurturing Greek deity, a patron and protector of young children, especially young girls. Artemis was worshipped as one of the primary goddesses of childbirth and midwifery and was also a patron of healing and disease, particularly among women and children,
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
‘Fingernail Moon’ is a great name for the sliver of visible Moon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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<3
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A wistful memory.
Artemis is a moon goddess, as well, Apollo’s sister. I hadn’t really thought of that in terms of the previous moon voyages.
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that’s perfect –
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It’s a wondrous thing
To be going around the moon again
But the wartime desert sands
Hard eastern winds are still stinging
And the children whose fingernais
Have never touched calm sails
Desperately need a new beginning
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so very sad
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Thank you, Beth
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Beautifully said
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What a lovely way to think of the moon Beth 🌙
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All good.
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The perfect name for that moon.
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This is such a wonderful and touching post.
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This was so beautiful, Beth.
I didn’t get to see the Artemis Launch. My brother did, though, as he was closer to the space center.
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My sister used to bite her nails, I just loved this. Hugs, C
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I remember it well from the 70s, I was a child then.
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Same
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Darling memory. And I love Merril’s comment! So apt for this.
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💕
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I am down to hangnails.
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👉
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love the analogy; you don’t often see a poem on fingernails :)
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Fingernail moon is super accurate, Beth. It feels silly that I’d never noticed the likeness. 🤓
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I really believed that’s where it went _
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I’m never gonna look at a crescent moon the same way again!
It’s been so nice to follow the Artemis II adventure and with a Canadian on board too. I can’t wait to see the images and hear the stories as they get closer to the Moon.
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yes, I agree and I saw that he is the first astronaut to speak French up there, I saw a little clip and it was wonderful
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aw…
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<3
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I still call it a fingernail moon.
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<3
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What love, to look at that fingernail moon and think of your sister. Even back then you cared so much, loved deeply.
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Now I see what you see.
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💕
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It’s so lovely too. And sometimes if we’re lucky she graces us with a smile. I love the moon in all phases.
That you tris to get it back to your sis is adorable. Bless you.
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<3
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I always thought of it as God’s thumbnail as that’s the term I heard of it many years. ago. Yes, the Artemis space flight had some beautiful nods to women. The only thing that ruined it was the orange moron’s conversation with the crew. No one, anywhere can escape…not even in space. Chris
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I did notice that they stopped responding to him at a certain point
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